Francis Rasolofonirina

Francis Rasolofonirina

Personal information
Full name	Maminiaina Francis Rasolofonirina[1]
Date of birth	(1986-07-22) 22 July 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Tsihombe, Madagascar
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	North Star
2007	USCA Foot
2008–2016	Petite Rivière Noire
2016–2018	Cercle de Joachim SC
2019–2024	AS Vacoas-Phoenix
International career
2015–2023	Mauritius	47	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Maminiaina Francis Rasolofonirina (born 22 July 1986) is a footballer who plays as a centre-back.[1] Born in Madagascar, he made 47 appearances for the Mauritius national team scoring twice.

Club career

Rasolofonirina was born in Tsihombe, Madagascar.[2] He moved to Toliara to play for North Star before joining USCA Foot.[2] After one season with USCA Foot, he signed with Mauritian club Petite Rivière Noire.[2] He remained with Petite Rivière Noire until 2016, when he moved to Curepipe-based Cercle de Joachim SC who offered a "huge contract".[2] The transfer fee paid to Petite Rivière Noire was reported as Rs50,000.[3] For the 2019–20 season, he went to AS Vacoas-Phoenix.[2]

International career

Rasolofonirina made his debut for the Mauritius national team in 2015.[4] In March 2016 he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Rwanda, preserving Mauritius' chances of qualification.[4]

Style of play

In 2016 Mauritian newspaper Défi Sport described Rasolofonirina as "one of the best full-backs" in the country.[4] In 2020 Clément Rabary of Midi Madagasikara highlighted Rasolofonirina's "intelligence and vision" as centre-back.[2]

Personal life

Rasolofonirina has Mauritian nationality.[2] He is married to a Mauritian woman with whom he has a son.[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year[5]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Mauritius	2015	8	0
	2016	7	1
	2017	12	1
	2018	7	0
	2019	10	0
	2023	3	0
Total		47	2

Scores and results list Mauritius' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rasolofonirina goal.

List of international goals scored by Francis Rasolofonirina[5]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	26 March 2016	Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius	Rwanda	1–0	1–0	2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	[6]
2	22 April 2017	Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius	Seychelles	2–0	2–1	2018 African Nations Championship qualification

References

1. Francis Rasolofonirina at WorldFootball.net
2. Rabary, Clément (15 May 2020). "Football : Francis Rasolofonirina, la fierté des… Mauriciens" [Football: Francis Rasolofonirina, the pride of... Mauritius]. Midi Madagasikara (in French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
3. "MBPL : Rasolofonirina passe au Cercle de Joachim" [MBPL: Rasolofonirina moves to Cercle de Joachim]. Défi Sport (in French). 7 February 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
4. Li, Olivier (25 April 2016). "Maurice, terre d'accueil pour les sportifs malgaches" [Mauritius, a welcoming land for Madagascan sportsmen and women]. Défi Sport (in French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
5. "Francis Rasolofonirina". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
6. "Mauritius 1-0 Rwanda". cafonline.com. CAF. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.

External links

• Francis Rasolofonirina at Soccerway